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'I II LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



I 



Thoughts in Verse 



BY 



Clifford Howard 





>^m 



BUFFALO 

THE PETER PAIL BOOK CO. 

1895 



,0^^ 






Copyright, 1895, 
By CLIFFORD HOWARD. 



PRINTED BY 

THE PETER PAUL BOOK CO. 

Buffalo, N. Y. 



To the 
inspiration of my thoughts 

this little volume 
is affectionately dedicated. 



CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

A Love Song 9 

There Is No Sin lo 

The Rose 1 1 

Night 12 

Love's Nocturne 13 

Faith 14 

The Candle of Mortahty 15 

Eventide ^6 

The Calendar of Life 16 

A Summer Shower 17 

Across the Way 18 

The Daisy. 19 

Cloudland 20 

Forgotten 22 

Arcanum 22 

To-morrow 23 

There's A Song in My Heart 24 

Two Souls 26 

Simplicity 27 

Nescience 28 

A Fairyland Tale 29 

The Christmas Rose 33 

Epithalamium 33 

For the Light is Growing Dim 34 

Athanasia 35 

Liberty . 35 

The Miller's Daughter 36 

Life's Eternity 37 

The Vines 38 



VI Contoits. 

Aphrodite .38 

Love 39 

How Different 40 

Golden-Rod 41 

Geraldine 42 

The Token 43 

A Little Girl 44 

Consolation 45 

The Beggar's Thanksgiving 46 

Genesis 48 

Too Late 49 

Shadows 50 

Sunbeams 51 

Song of the River 52 

The Fan 54 

'Music 55 

Why? 57 

Innocence 58 

He Kissed My Hand 59 

Fallen Leaves 60 

Affinity 61 

Ego 61 

The Light Departed 62 

Reservation 63 

Disillusion 64 

Her Name 65 

Chansonnette 66 

The Evening Star 67 

Five Apple Seeds 68 

My Boutonniere 69 

Dolly Belle . 70 

The Plaint of Woman's Love 72 



Thoughts in Verse 



A LOVE SONG. 

^npIS just one month to-day, my love, 

X Since our hearts bespoke 
The fettered thought which oft had sought 

Expression to evoke; 
Since we in love were plighted, dear, 

Forever and forever. 
And nought in life — no pain nor strife, — 

Nor death can e'er dissever 
The bond that ever stronger grows, 
The love that ever brighter glows 

Beyond the heart's endeavor. 

Yes, one sweet month ago, my love, 

A Sabbath night in May; 
It seems a year, and yet, my dear, 

It seems but yesterday, 
For in the realm of love, sweetheart, 

There are no days, no hours, 
Nought but the rhyme and tinkling chime 

In love's bright, airy towers. 
That soar above the mortal world 
Where dreamlit symphonies unfurled 

Are love's eternal flowers. 



lo Thoughts hi Verse. 

This happy, happy month, my love, 

Is but the wak'ning dawn — 
The morning ray — of love's long day; 

And when this life has gone 
And loving hearts are still, dear love, 

And star lights faintly quiver, 
As over all the shadows fall 

Across the silent river, 
Immortal love in myst'ry deep 
' Mid heaven-lighted dreams will sleep 

Forever and forever. 



I 



THERE IS NO SIN. 

F there in nature be a primal cause. 

Then must it be supreme omnipotence, 
Unfettered by conditions or by laws. 
Creator through almighty immanence. 



All life is but the breath of this one soul. 
All things are but the varied forms of life, 

Each is a part of that eternal whole. 

Whose all-abounding oneness knows no strife; 

For perfect harmony is force supreme, 

And out of peace can come no strife or wrong; 

That which a clashing discord oft may seem 
Is but man's ignorance of nature's song. 



Thoughts in Verse. 



THE ROSE. 



IF thou couldst read the thoughts that dwell 
Embodied in this flower 
And know the truth that they would tell 
Within their silent power, 
Then wouldst thou learn the love supreme 
Of one whose ev'ry hope and dream, 
Of one whose life hath grown to be 
Illumined by his love for thee. 

But ah, to thee the rose is naught 

Beyond a moment's pleasure, 
Forgotten like the passing thought 

Of some sweet, idle pleasure. 
Perchance, howe'er, the soul that glows 
Within the bosom of the rose 
May kiss thee ere it doth depart 
And find its heaven in thy heart. 



Thous:hts in Verse. 



G 



NIGHT. 

O, silent night, from me! 
Thy very nuUity of life 
Doth cause the unrealities to live 
And, by thy solemn impotency, give 

An energy to thee 
To pierce the heart's existing strife 
With the relentless, poignant knife 
Of memory. 



Come, silent night, and bless 
The weary soul that laboreth 
To rest within the shades of dreamless sleep- 
Blest acolyte of thy supernal deep, 
That in its cold caress 
Doth e'er commingle life and death 
And whisper in its luring breath, 
' ' Forgetfulness, ' ' 



Thoughts in Verse. 13 



LOVE'S NOCTURNE. 

)\ /f ID the shadows softly falUng, 
IVl Come the elfs of dreamland calling, 
"Good-night, good-night,'' — 
Comes the tinkle, tinkle, tinkle 

Of the distant, frosty bells, 
Faintly ringing, slowly swinging 
As their melody impels, 

"Good-night, my love, good-night; 
All sorrows now take flight; 
Then gently sleep in slumbers deep — 
Good-night, my love, good-night." 

Fairy melodies are stealing, 
Gently, faintly, softly pealing, 

"Good-night, good-night," 
While the tiny, tuneful tapping 

Of the snowflakes on the pane 
Speeds the napping with their rapping 
To the lullaby refrain: 

"Good-night, my love, good-night; 

Until the morning light 
Shall wake thy soul from dreamland's troll. 

Good-night, my love, good-night." 



14 Thoughts in Verse. 



FAITH. 



OFTTIMES in the quiet hour, 
As I sit 
Thinking thoughts that vainly tower, 
As they flit, 
T'ward the ultimate solution 

Of the mystery of life, 
Of biotic evolution, 

With its incidental strife; 
Thinking thoughts so high transcending, 
Thinking thoughts so deep descending, 
Till the finite mind is pending 
In unfathomable space; 

Ofttimes when I thus sit musing 

In the night, 
While my thoughts themselves are losing 

In their flight 
For the knowledge that is hidden 

From the philosophic ken. 
The omnisciency forbidden 

The mentality of men, 
Like the soul's illumination 
Comes a peaceful consolation 
In the subtle inspiration 

Of the dream of one whose face 



Thoughts ift Verse. jc 

In the lovely picture smiling 

By my side 
Seems in tenderness beguiling 

Me to bide 
With the faith she loves so dearly, 

With her faith, that sheds its light 
As a star that shines most clearly 

In the darkest depths of night, 
Till her silent, soothing power, 
Like the perfume of a flower, 
Draws me nearer to the bower 

Of her perfect faith and grace. 



THE CANDLE OF MORTALITY. 

FAINTLY now, then brightly shining. 
So it burns itself away, 
Life and death in one combining 
To produce the vital ray; 
For while hving it is dying 

And in dying 't lives and glows; 
Thus is death its life supplying. 
Thus does life its death impose. 
Without both there can not be 
Aught but dull nonentity. 



i6 Thoughts in Verse. 



EVENTIDE. 

DEPARTING sun has kissed the earth good-night 
And slowly fades the blush upon her face, 
As one by one, with pale and timid light. 
The silent stars peep forth from unknown space 
To blossom in the meadows of the sky, 

While o'er the world a dreamy stillness falls, 
As nature in her subtle lullaby 

All life in peaceful drowsiness enthralls. 
Now fades the ling' ring twilight of the sun 
And stealthy shadows tenderly transume 
The varied forms and colors into one 

And hush the whisp'ring melodies in gloom; 
Till over all there comes a silence deep 
And gently falls the tranquil earth to sleep. 



THE CALENDAR OF LIFE. 

Blushingly the hopes of life blossom into view; 
Tenderly the mellow years dim their rosy hue; 
Mournfully they slowly fade with the dreamy past; 
Silently the shadows fall over all at last. 



Thoughts in Verse. j^ 



A SUMMER SHOWER. 

SIDE by side they walk together, 
Heeding not the frowning weather 
Of a summer's parting day, 
As the birds are nestward winging 
And the woodland sofdy ringing 
In a lulling roundelay. 

On his lips a question hovers, 
She her love with blushes covers, 

Tremblingly they hesitate; 
When the rain, in sudden drenching— 
Passion's ardor rudely quenching, 

Downward beats importunate. 

So the words remain unspoken 
And love's quietude unbroken. 

Leaving two hearts lone and free. 
Thus has fate the potent power 
Through a simple summer shower 

So to change life's destiny. 



1 8 Thoughts in Verse. 



ACROSS THE WAY. 

THOUGH ev'ry day, 
Across the way, 
She flits athwart my vision. 
Sweet, debonair, 
With golden hair 
And charming indecision — 

Though ev'ry day. 

Across the way, 
I catch her shyly peeping, 

While she, in turn. 

Doth me discern, 
Whene'er a watch I'm keeping — 

Though ev'ry day, 

Across the way, 
Whate'er has been the weather. 

Through summer's glow 

And winter's snow. 
Our thoughts have been together — 

Yet when we meet 
Upon the street. 



Thoughts in Verse. 19 

We recognition smother, 

Because, you see. 

Unhappily, 
We do not know each other. 



THE DAISY. 

ALONE by the meadow a Htde white flower 
Awakes from its sleep to peep forth from its 
bower; 
'Tis only a daisy, which nature has told 
To harbor the secret its death will unfold. 

Beside the bright meadow a sad little maiden — 
Sweet Gretchen — is passing, her heart heavy laden; 
She spies the lone daisy and forward she springs 
And plucking its petals she eagerly sings: 

** Er liebt mich, ganz innig, von Herzen, mit 
Schmerzen, 

Klein wenig, und gar nicht; er liebt mich, von Her- 
zen ! ' ' 

Dear Gretchen rejoices, her sorrows depart, 

For the soul of the daisy now blooms in her heart. 



20 Thoughts in Verse. 



CLOUDLAND. 



I^M standing by the gate, dear, 
Where once we stood before 
And hstened to the rippHng song 
Of wavelets on the shore 
And watched the gath'ring clouds, dear, 

That o'er the mountain stole. 
To read above on wings of love 
The fortunes of our soul; 

For then our hearts were one, dear. 

Bound with a single thought — 
To live and love and love and live 

As only love had taught; 
And so, within the sky, dear, 

In cloudland far away, 
'Mid rosy beams we dreamed the dreams 

Of love's long summer day. 

We saw the snowy peaks, dear. 

Of airy mountains high, 
With fairy streams and cataracts, 

That sparkled in the sky; 
And by the em' raid seas, dear. 

We saw the castles bright, 



Thoughts in Verse. 21 

Whose towers bold seemed made of gold 
Amid the fading light. 

Then saw we gardens fair, dear, 

Where countless flowers grew. 
While silv'ry brooks seemed murmuring 

Through fields of golden hue, 
And music seemed to fall, dear, 

In gentle, mellow spray, 
As tinkling bells o'er fairy fells 

In cloudland far away, 

I see the clouds again, dear, 

In all their wondrous art. 
But, like the hopes and joys of life. 

They come but to depart; 
The mountains fade in mist, dear, 

The crumbling castles fall. 
While oceans grand and fairyland 

Fast fade beyond recall. 

And so they pass away, dear. 

The dreams of life and love. 
That for a moment hid from view 

The endless night above; 
And thus they are absorbed, dear. 

Within the boundless sea. 
Where life and thought and love are nought 

E'en to eternity. 



22 Thoughts in Verse. 



FORGOTTEN. 

A SHADOWED mound 
Of mold' ring ground, 
A churchyard solitary; 
A crumbling stone 
That bears alone 
The faded name of Mary. 

A sudden dream, 

A flitting gleam, 
A vision dim and airy; 

One ling' ring thought 

On which is wrought 
The once-loved name of Mary. 



ARCANUM. 

Each man does in his life some thought control, 
Unreached by love or fear, by priest or pelf, 

That speaks to him alone, when in his soul 
He holds a mute communion with himself. 



Thoughts in Verse. 23 



TO-MORROW. 



HOPEFUL youth with rosy face 
StruggHng in the mortal race, 
Never wearied, never tired; 
Ever by the thought inspired, 
That for ev'ry pain we borrow 
Comes redemption in the morrow; 
Sacrificing strength and soul, 
Striving, striving for the goal 
That awaits the life to-morrow; 
Spurning flowers of to-day 
For the blossoms' rich array 
Of to-morrow, of to-morrow. 

Listless age with withered face 
Drifting in the mortal race, 
Worn and helpless, lone and weary. 
Gazing through the shadows dreary 
Of the long, long night of sorrow 
For the sunrise of the morrow; 
Drifting, drifting to the sea 
Of eternal mystery. 

While the world repeats, '' To-morrow. 
Thus it speeds the soul from strife, 
Thus it greets the new-born life, 
With ** To-morrow," aye, to-morrow. 



24 Thoughts in Verse. 



THERE'S A SONG IN MY HEART. 

THERE'S a song In my heart 
That will never depart 
With the echoes of melodies dead; 
'Tis the song of the mill 
In the old miller's trill 
As he labored each day for his bread. 
'Mid the plash of the wheel 
And the roll of the reel, 
And the waters that noisily sped, 
Came the miller's old croon 
In the rhythmical tune 
O^ the hum of the mill in its tread — 

" Work and sing while there's light, 
While there's hope in the breast, 

For the day will take flight 

And there's coming a night 
When the toiler will go to his rest. " 

But the miller and mill 

Now forever are still, 
For the miller has long passed away 

And his mill by the stream. 

As a memory's dream. 
Is departing in silent decay. 



Thotights in Verse. 25 

Yet the purl of the brook 

And the breath from each nook 
Breathe the soul of his quieted lay 

In a threnody low 

For the weary who go 
To their rest at the end of the day — 

"Work and sing while there's light, &c." 

There's a song in my heart 

That will never depart, 
Though the sound of the music has fled; 

'Tis the song of the mill 

In the old miller's trill. 
Though the mill and the miller are dead. 

'Mid the passing of years, 

With the smiles and the tears 
That have come and have lingered and sped, 

Comes the memoried croon 

In the mutable tune . 
Of the throbbing of life in its tread — 

" Work and sing while there's light, &c." 



26 Thoughts ill Verse. 



A 



TWO SOULS. 

S died the twilight of the day, 
Two mortal spirits passed away. 



Amid the luxuries of wealth, 
With flick' ring hopes of better health, 
' Mid all that love and gold could buy, 
With friends and dear ones ever nigh, 
'Mid watchful, tender, loving care. 
Physicians' skill and clergy's prayer. 
She smiled and died. 

Full mournfully the bells were tolled, 
Fond, hopeful hearts grew drear and cold, 
While over all the busy land 
The sad news flashed on ev'ry hand. 
And people sorrowed, mourned and wept 
For her who now in silence slept 
Beyond the tide. 

Without a home, without a friend 
To shelter or to comfort lend. 
Within starvation's deadly grasp, 
As to her breast in frenzied clasp 



Thoughts in Verse. 27 



She pressed her hfeless infant boy— 
Her only spark of earthly joy, — 
She wept and died. 

No loving voice, no tolling bell, 
No sound, no sign to bid farewell, 
No sobbing heart, no sad despair, 
No burning tear, no one to care, 
No one to grieve, no one to pray 
For her who thus had passed away 
Beyond the tide. 

And so two spirits went to rest. 
As died the twilight in the west. 



SIMPLICITY. 

AROUND the board in childish stare 
He watched the guests with thoughtful face 
Bow low their heads, as if in prayer. 
To say their solemn, silent grace; 
And folding then his little hands, 
• While meekly drooped his curly head, 
He, too, as one who understands, 
Spoke softly to himself and said: 
" Now I lay me down to sleep, 
I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep." 



28 Thoughts in Verse. 



NESCIENCE. 

1AM waiting, I am waiting by the riverside alone 
For the voice of one whose spirit hke a dulcet 
breath has flown. 
I am waiting, I am waiting by her lonely sepulcher, 
Where the music of the forest breathes the requiem 

for her, 
Where the waters of the river whisper ever from 

the deep 
Of the burial, perennial, impenetrable sleep, 
While the antiphon of heaven knells the dirge of 

parted breath 
And the stars in awful silence tell of everlasting 

death ; 
Still I'm waiting, oh, I'm waiting, for a message 

from her soul 
'Mid the murmur of the waters in their weird, 

eternal dole. 

I am waiting, I am waiting by the dark, sepulchral 

stream 
In the fearful fascination of a melancholy dream, 
As I yearn and ever hearken in a ponderable fear 
By the river in its purling so mellifluously drear 



Thoughts in Verse. 29 

For a token from my loved one, that the love of 
parted souls 

Holds communion with the livings and their destiny 
controls; 

But the gurgle of the current in its dolorific flow 

Is the only sound that answers through the dark- 
ness cold and low, 

While I'm waiting, sadly dreaming, 'neath the 
stars' frigidic stare, 

By the tomb of my beloved in the anguish of 
despair. 



A FAIRYLAND TALE. 

^^ T^LL not go to bed," she had playfully said, 
X While clambering up on my knee, 

" 'Till fairyland tale of a beautiful dale 
You tell all alone now to me." 

The moon's pallid light through the deepening night 

Entangled itself in her hair 
And it kissed her face in the tremulous trace 

Of a soul that had parted fore'er. 



30 Thoughts in Verse. 

*' A fairyland tale of a beautiful dale 

Before you jump into your bed ? 
Then listen, my dear, ere the brownies draw near 

And the wily old sandman has fled. 

" A long time ago, when the days were aglow 

With mystical music and mirth, 
The elfin of love on a fairyland dove 

Stole two loving hearts from the earth. 

" Far over the sand of the lullaby land. 

With its little dream fairies aglee. 
They traveled afar by the light of a star 

Beyond the deep, billowy sea. 

' ' For a paradise fair was awaiting them there — 

The flowerland garden of love, — 
Where the heather bells ring and the meadow brooks 
sing 

With the melodies floating above; 

"Where the moon's gentle beams are the silvery 
streams 

That enripple the dreams of the morn, 
And the starry lights tell of the angels that dwell 

In the realm where the flow^ers are born; 

" Where the dewdrops of light are the thoughts of 
the night 
That awaken the blossoms of hope; 



Thoughts in Verse. 31 

Where the sunbeams repose in the blush of the rose 
And the scent of the hehotrope. 

" It was here that they walked and they sang and 
they talked 

With the birds and the posies and brooks, 
O'er the hills and the vales and the mellowy dales 

And the musical, tunable nooks. 

" But at length, one sad day, as they happened to 
stray 

Far out on the fairyland lea, 
They heard the deep roar on a far-away shore 

Of a strange and a wonderful sea. 

"And then, hand in hand, they went down to the 
sand 
Where the ocean rolls out to the nioht, 
And there as they gazed, trembling, frightened, 
amazed, 
In the gloom of the vanishing light, 

" A grim phantom dark in a shadowy bark 

Stole silently over the deep 
And closer it drew t'ward the terrified two 

As a vision that comes in a sleep. 

" Ere either could fly or could whisper good-bye. 

The phantom had flitted afore 
With one loving heart to forever depart 

From the other alone on the shore. 



32 Thoughts in Verse. 

" ' Stay, loved one,' he cried, but the murmuring 
tide 

Only bubbled and gurgled and purled. 
While gloominess fell like a dolorous spell 

All over the fairyland world. 

" While this, as you know, was a long time ago — 

Yes, long before you came to be, — 
Yet every night with a glimmering light 

He walks by the wonderful sea, 

" All alone there to weep, when the world is asleep, 
By the ocean's chill, witherful spray. 

Where aching hearts yearn for a moment's return 
Of the souls that have drifted away. 

" And now, little one, as my story is done. 

Come, scamper away to your fold, 
There to travel once more to the lullaby shore 

And forget the strange tale I have told." 

" Then is it not true what you've told of the two?" 

She queried in whisperings frail; 
" No, no," I replied, as I wearily sighed, 

" 'Tis only a fairyland tale." 



Thoughts in Verse. 33 



THE CHRISTMAS ROSE. 

WHEN birds and butterflies have fled 
And leaves and flowers all are dead, 
When meadows sleep beneath the snow, 
And woodland brooks no longer flow. 
Then comes the dainty Christmas rose. 

Loved child of nature's tender care, 
Fond, fragile, fragrant, frail and fair, 
Enraptured wakes to smile and die 
Beneath the winter's cruel sky; 

So blooms the lovely Christmas rose. 

The incarnation of a breath. 
Sweet life communing with its death, 
The timid kiss that winter stole 
From blushing summer's fleeting soul — 
This is the gentle Christmas rose. 



EPITHALAMIUM. 

'TwAS nought but a word — a lone whispered word,- 
Which only one heart in the universe heard; 
But it fastened the link that none can dissever, 
Enclasping two souls in a union forever. 



34 ' Thoughts in Verse. 



FOR THE LIGHT IS GROWING DIM. 



Y' 



ES, dear, I hear the tolHng of the ev'nuig 
chapel bell, 

I hear the far-off voices and the murmurs of 
the dell, 
I hear the nesting swallows as they flit and lightly 

skim 
Amid the gath'ring shadows, for the light is grow- 
ing dim. 

Come, sing to me the music of the days of long 

ago, 
While daylight gently lingers where the twilight 

breezes blow; 
O, sing to me, my darling, in the words of love's 

old hymn, 
Ere parting day hath vanished — for the light is 

growing dim. 

Come hither! aye, draw closer, dear, that we may 

nearer be! 
Methought in fearful fantasy, that thou hadst gone 

from me; 



. Thoughts in Verse. 35 

That I was here all lonely with the shadows gray 

and grim; 
That day had sped forever— for the light is growing 

dim. 

Ah, yes, 'twas but a vision of the joy of faded 

years, 
Nought but the dream remaining with the heart's 

embittered tears; 
Nought but the spirit yearning through eternity for 

him, 
While thought and life are waning — for the light is 

growing dim. 



ATHANASIA. 

The tender flower of the summer's glade- 
Fond afterthought of winter's icy sting, — 

Lives but to bloom and blossoms but to fade, 
That from its tomb another life may spring. 



LIBERTY. 

There is on earth no liberty so great 
But that its very greatness, soon or late. 
Doth lend the means whereby the favored free 
Convert their freedom into tyranny. 



36 Thoughts m Verse. 



THE MILLER'S DAUGHTER. 







^ER the bridge across the water 

Comes the miller's pretty daughter, 
Lightly tripping, gaily skipping o'er 
the hurly-burly stream. 

Where the morning sun is sipping 
And the shadows gently dipping, 
As she hums a little ditty like the murmur of a 
dream. 

How her merry blue eyes twinkle 
At the sprinkle and the tinkle 
Of the music of the ripples 'neath her dancing toe 
and heel; 

How she sings and laughs with pleasure 
At the tantalizing measure, 
At the dashing and the plashing of the splashing 
water wheel. 

Ah, this charming little maiden. 
With her heart so lightly laden. 
Steals the hearts of all the laddies, all the laddies on 
the hill. 



Thoughts in Verse. 37 

While the jealous country lasses 
Frown upon her as she passes 
And they toss their saucy tresses when a-coming by 
the mill. 

But the miller's pretty daughter, 
Like the purling, whirling water, 
Never stays nor cares to listen to the words they 
have to say. 

Caring nought for lass or laddie. 
Caring only for her daddie, 
While she's tripping, while she's skipping, gaily 
tripping on her way. 



LIFE'S ETERNITY. 

EACH life is to itself eternal, 
Aware of neither birth nor death: 
Howe'er remote the search internal, 
It knows not of its waking breath. 
Nor does it know when falls the curtain 

Upon the thought that was to be. 
And thus within its sphere uncertain 
Each life is an eternity. 



38 Thoughts in Verse. 



I 



THE VINES. 

N childhood's assurance, our fate to forestall, 
We planted two vines by an old garden wall. 



'Mid tears of the night and 'mid joys of the sun, 
The vines closer grew till they twined into one. 

In union endearing they mingled above — 
Prophetic fulfillment of predestined love. 

^ >fC *^'. *fC ^j^ 

The vines are still clinging in sweet unity 
(The one was for her and the other for me), 

But time hath uncoupled her name from my mind 
And altered the destiny love had divined. 



APHRODITE. 

Divine duality, that doth alloy 

With chilling curse her fervent prayer; 

That burns the quickened soul with fulgent joy 
To leave the ashes of despair! 



Thoughts in Verse. 39 



LOVE. 



THOUGH we should know when first the light 
Awoke the everlasting night 
Upon the silent, pregnant earth, 
And sentient life was given birth, 
Though we should know when first the soul 
Fell captive to the world's control. 
When love, its spirit to impart. 
First thrilled the wond'ring mortal heart, 
We would not know when love began; 
For love was here to welcome man. 

Before the earth had once revolved. 
Before the stars had been evolved. 
Yea, e'en before the birth of time, 
Love breathed in harmony sublime 
Upon the dark, amorphous sea 
Of motionless infinity. 

Love is the deep, eternal source 

Of vital and of cosmic force. 

From whence has sprung all that exists. 

The power that fore'er persists 

In that which is and is to be — 

The essence of eternity. 



40 



Thouzhts in Verse. 



HOW DIFFERENT. 



H' 



OW different we 

Would all of us be 
Could we know of the future await- 
ing 
To sever the ties 
That at present comprise 
The life that our hopes are creating. 

How many a word 

Would remain unheard, 
How many a sentence unspoken; 

How many a thought 

Would remain unwrought, 
How many a promise unbroken. 

How many a heart 

Would its feelings impart 
And hold them no longer in keeping, 

But would gladly express 

The love we repress 
Till the spirit forever is sleeping. 

How many an act 
We would now retract, 
How many a selfish emotion, 



Thoughts in Verse. 41 

To joyfully bear 
Vexation and care 
With patience and loving devotion. 

How different we 

Would all of us be 
Could we look o'er the graves of the morrow, 

Could we look from the light 

To the infinite night, 
From the joy to the infinite sorrow. 



GOLDEN-ROD. 

HIDING by the woodland rill, 
Decking meadow, lane and hill 
To enclasp the flitting rays 
Of September's gilded days, 
That it may immortalize 
Glories of the summer skies. 

Sun-kissed flower of the field; 
Summer's gift to Autumn's weald; 
Golden link that interweaves 
Thoughts of Spring with fallen leaves; 
Queen of all the wildwood sod- 
Wondrous, peerless golden-rod. 



42 Thoughts in Verse. 



GERALDINE. 



HEAR her dainty little feet 
Pat' ring up and down the street, 
Scamp' ring o'er the dusty way, 
Tripping now in happy play, 
Dancing to some childish song, 
Frisking now in haste along, 
Skipping on the terrace green — 
Lovely little Geraldine. 

Eyes that flash with saucy mirth, 
Shine like litde stars on earth; 
Rosy lips with sparkling pearls. 
Nut-brown hair that seldom curls. 
Dainty form and winning grace, 
Sweet, aristocratic face; 
Tout ensemble, little queen — 
Lovely little Gerladine. 

Tiny feet in slippers red. 
Sunbeams smiling on her head, 
As she trips sedately by 
Seeming not to see me nigh. 
Or, in bashful, artful play. 
Looks and laughs and runs away; 



Thoughts in Verse. 43 

Sweet coquette with baby mien — 
Lovely little Geraldine. 

And at night when all is still, 
Save the crickets' dreamy trill, 
Twinkling stars look down and peep 
On a little form asleep, 
Tired out with merry play. 
Floating now in dreams away 
To some distant fairy scene — 
Lovely little Geraldine. 



THE TOKEN. 

THERE are no words unspoken 
To tell my love for thee; 
But ne'er can fond love's token 
In mortal language be. 

The tongue can not confess it, 
No song my love can tell; 

Yet though no words express it, 
Thy heart doth know it well. 

True love can ne'er be broken, 

And as thou lovest me, 
Thou art thyself the token 

Of my dear love for thee. 



44 Thoughts iti Verse. 



A LITTLE GIRL. 

A LITTLE, bright-eyed, winsome girl, 
Whose golden hair in tangled curl 
(An aureole of artless grace) 
Caressed her dimpled, thoughtful face, 
As earnestly she moved about 
While sorting clothes and playthings out — 
Sweet baby garments, laid away 
As sacred to another day, 
And remnants of some jingling toys, 
That had forever ceased their noise, — 
And these she placed with loving care 
Within a little cradle bare. 

" Whose pretty things are these? " I said; 

" For surely, you've outgrown them all, 
And this small crib's too wee a bed 

For one who's over three feet tall." 

" They are not mine," she answered low; 

" They are for baby brother dear, 
Who went away, I s'pose you know, 

A long, long time ago, last year. 
They said I'd see him 'gain some day; 

But just what day, nobody knew; 



Thoughts in Verse. 45 

They said he'd gone far, far away — 

I dess it must be miles, don't you ? 
But I's been waiting for him, though — 

I dess it's been twelve months or ten; 
I's had my birfday weeks ago 

And soon it will be here again. 
But now I's going to make his bed 

And hang his little dresses near 
And hx a pillow for his head 

And put his spools and playthings here, 
'Tause he'll be back on 'Tris'mas day — 

Oh, yes, it's really, truly so; 
He's found some one to lead the way 

And he'll be here that day, I know. 

" How do I know? " — a thoughtful pause. 

"You will not tell? — Well, 'tause, you see, 
I wrote to dear, old Santa Claus 

To bring the baby back to me." 



CONSOLATION. 

Beneath the tears of winter's weeping, 
A summer blossom may be sleeping; 
A bud unseen 'mid storm and shower, 
To be some day a radiant flower. 



46 Thoughts in Verse. 



THE BEGGAR'S THANKSGIVING. 

AS from the church in mellow strain the tuneful 
anthem stole, 
The beggar's heart grew young again and 
stirred his slumb'ring soul 
With memories of bygone years, with visions 

bright and clear 
Of happy days long, long ago, when life and love 
were near. 



Again he hears the joyous bells upon Thanksgiving 
Day, 

Again he hears the merry birds in chirping rounde- 
lay. 

As walking by his mother's side, his little hand in 
hers. 

He greets upon the narrow street the good, old 
villagers. 

Again he sees the little church, with ivy-covered 

tower, 
Again he sees the old town clock and^'^hears the 

tolling hour, 



Thoughts in Verse. 47 

While silently the people pass within the welcome 
door 

To plain, uncushioned benches on a bare, unpol- 
ished floor. 

Again he feels the love of God, long faded in his 

breast. 
Again he feels the thrill divine of heaven's hope 

and rest; 
The world again grows bright and fair, and charity 

and love 
Once more enchain the smiling earth with paradise 

above. 

Again he hears his mother's voice, that dear, sweet, 

loving voice, 
Amid the singing of the hymn that made his heart 

rejoice; 
Yea, e'en the same old hymn sublime, that now 

came to his ears, 
As tremblingly he stood without, his dim eyes 

filled with tears. 

The music ceased; thanks had been said within the 
church walls dim; 

But all day long, 'mid cold and want, he heard the 
sweet, old hymn. 

And in the stillness of the night, an angel passed 
that way 

And carried home one thankful soul upon Thanks- 
giving Day. 



48 Thoughts in Verse. 



GENESIS. 

EAC H one was perched upon a box and slowly 
swung his leg, 
While wrestling with the problem of the 
chicken and the egg. 

They reasoned and they argued it, yet neither one 
could say 

Which was the first, the egg or chick, upon cre- 
ation day; 

" Because," said one, " without a hen an egg there 
can not be; " 

"But," t'other said, "it takes an egg to make a 
hen, you see! " 

In vain they strove to fathom it, in vain they sought 
to guess. 

Until another, sitting by in quiet thoughtfulness, 

With innocent assurance said, while whittling on a 

peg, 
"I'll tell you fellows how it was: I guess God laid 
the eggr 



A 



Thoughts in Verse. 49 



TOO LATE. 

FALT'RING tongue; 
The note is sung 
Too late. 



An act deferred, 

A laggard word, 
An unresolved endeavor; 

The day has gone, 

The world moves on — 
Too late, too late, forever. 

A heart repressed; 
The love confessed 

Too late. 

A touch withheld. 
An impulse quelled, 

The links of life dissever; 
The soul has gone, 
The world moves on — 

Too late, too late, forever. 



50 Thoughts m Verse. 



SHADOWS. 



EV'NING shadows in their flitting, 
In their flitting to and fro, 
Seem to whisper and to beckon — 
Beckon us to come and go; 
For they tell in noiseless cadence, 

In a noiseless, mystic rhyme, 
To the heart of joy or sorrow 
Soon or late there comes a time 

When the daylight fades to twilight 

And the twilight into night, 
And the shadows gently bury 

Earthly memories from sight; 
When the day of life is ended, 

When the gulf of life is spanned, 
And the soul returns forever 

To the silent shadow-land. 



Thoughts in Verse. 51 



SUNBEAMS. 



O^ER the tempest's angry gushing, 
Through the clouded veil of night, 
Steal the sunbeams softly blushing. 
Comes the restful morning light; 
Struggling with their gende power 
Through the darkened forest sod, 
They unfold the hidden flower — 

Wake the slumb'ring thought of God. 

Unto ev'ry human sorrow 

Comes at length the peaceful ray, 
Comes the promise of the morrow, 

Comes the dawning of the day. 
That in stealing through the portal 

Of the shadowed night of dole 
Wakes to hope and life immortal 

Latent glories of the soul. 



52 Thouo^hts in Verse. 



SONG OF THE RIVER. 

AS I stand by the stream in its murmuring flow 
And watch the stray beams of the moon as 
they glow 
And they ghmmer and shimmer in ghostly array 
On the turbulent water e'er rolling away, 
As the night's palling breath, witli its funeral moan 
In the dole of a soul that is dying alone. 
Chills my breast with a trembling, ineffable fear, 
There comes a strange sound, a strange voice to 

mine ear. 
'Tis the voice of the river that calls to me there, 
Enthrilling and filling my heart with despair; 
Oh, the river is calling and drawing me near 
With a melody strangely, alluringly drear, 
And this is the song that it murmurs to me 
As it rolls o'er the shoals on its way to the sea: 

"Come, oh, come from the world with its trouble 

and strife; 
Cast into oblivion the bubble of life; 
Come to rest on my breast in the ocean of sleep, 
In the ocean so peaceful, so great and so deep, 
That self, reabsorbed in the infinite soul. 
Ne'er awakens again to earth's bitter control. 



Thoughts in Verse. 53 

Ah, life's but a struggle from cradle to tomb, 
A striving and driving through torment and gloom. 
While man's but a creature of torture and pain. 
Discerning, yet yearning for heaven in vain; 
For the light of a day is the shadow of years 
And the one happy smile is a fountain of tears — 
E'er the greater the pleasure, the greater the woe 
That follows the loss of the joy that must go. 
Man is born but to die and the grave is the end, 
Whate'er be the length of the path he may wend; 
Yet he battles and toils with the world and its hate, 
E'er hoping and groping 'gainst pitiless fate, 
While he labors and strives and he suffers and fears 
'Mid the care and despair and the burden of years. 
When the meed for his struggles that end with his 

breath 
Is nothing, aye, nothing, but infinite death ! 
Then, oh flee from this scene of malevolent gloom ! 
Why stay and delay the inex'rable doom ? 
Come, oh, come to me now, to my welcome embrace 
And my waters shall smother and cover thy face 
And banish forever the phantom of life 
With the chains and the pains of a merciless strife!" 

So the river is lulling and luring my soul. 
While low, like the flow, knells the tremulous toll 
Of the funeral bell far away in the lone — 
The knelling and telling of life that has flown. 



54 Thoughts in Verse. 

Yea, the river sings sadly, yet madly and clear 
Dark visions are becking and calling me near: 
'' Oh, come to me, come to me, come to my breast! 
Aye, come to the river, the giver of rest ! ' ' 
See ! the waters are boiling and toiling to meet, 
To meet me, to greet me and further entreat, 
And the river is welling and swelling its deep 
To grasp me and clasp me forever in sleep. 
While lapping and purling and hurling it sings 
And splashing and dashing it stealthily clings, 
E'er palling, enthralling and calling to me. 
While whirling and swirling its way to the sea. 



THE FAN. 

I HELD her fan, as by the hill 
We mused in quiet thought, 
A-list'ning to the trickling rill 
With lulling music fraught. 
Thus as we sat in language starved 

'Neath nature's dreamy ban, 
I, quite unthinking, slowly carved 
My name upon the fan. 



Thoughts m Verse. 55 

The deed was done and, though unmeant, 

I could not help but fear 
That she might captiously resent 

So bold a souvenir. 
And yet it proved not troublesome, 

For by love's happy plan. 
The name I carved has since become 

Her name upon the fan. 



MUSIC. 

IS music nought but cold, material sound 
Rung forth in euphony to please the ear? 
Or may within its harmonies be found 
The voice that whispers from the unknown sphere 
Of life and immortality — 
The soul's bright ideality? 
Full oft some simple melody or chime, 
As pealing from the organ, grand, sublime, 
Or stealing from some plaintive voice unknown. 
Or e'en a whisp'ring zephyr quickly flown, 
Enthrills with ecstasy the list'ning mind 

And, like a flitting phantom strangely old. 
There comes a vision vague and undefined. 

That fills the heart with longing uncontrolled — 
Some dim-remembered scene or place. 
Some once-familiar form or face, — 



56 Thoughts in Verse 

Entrancing now the mind's enraptured gaze 
With tantaHzing images of days 
Long since departed with the dreamy mist 
That setting sun of yesterday has kissed. 

Is it the knowledge of these days returned, 
Or is it but the vision of a dream, 

Whose impress on the brain had been unlearned 
Till brightened by the music's quick'ning theme? 

Or may it be transcendent memory 
Of pre-existent life in faint rehearse, 

As throbs the chord of dark infinity 

That binds the soul with all the universe 
And pulses with supernal life 
Beyond the spirit's mortal strife. 
Whene'er departing melodies of earth. 
In sombre symphony or mellow mirth, 
But touch in unison the vital note 
Uniting distant worlds howe'er remote? 

So does the soul, that ne'er before gave sign 
Of joy or love, but slumbered on unknown, 

Awake one day within the clasp divine 
Of some electric, sympathetic tone. 
To hear amid earth's jarring throng 
The harmony of nature's song; 
As does the tou:h of heaven's breath unfold 
The hidden bud, though seeming dead and cold. 
And brings to light, in mystery combined, 
A life and beauty none had e'er divined. 



Thoughts in Verse. 57 



WHY? 

WHY do we love ? 
To float for one fond moment in a blissful 
dream 
And wake to find another ceaseless memory ? 
To kindle flames, that darker may the darkness 
be, 
And warble songs, that deeper may the silence 
seem ? 
To learn that joy is ever sorrow's womb? 
To know that grief is but affection's tomb? — 
For such is love. 

Why do we live ? 
To blindly battle with a destiny ordained — 

Weak captives on the treadmill of a bounded 

sphere ? 
To point the way to paradise, and linger here 
To furnish to the worms all that the soul has 
gained ? 
To pass to earth while reaching t'ward the sky? 
To prattle of eternity, and die ? — 
For such is life. 



58 Thoughts in I'erse. 



INNOCENCE. 



IX bonny Scotland o'er the sea, upon a summer's 
day, 
A little maid trudged merrily along the public 
way; 



And for the first time in her life, this happy peasant 

lass 
Gazed on the world beyond her home in yonder 

mountain pass. 

With beaming face and cheery song she tripped 

on t'ward the town 
In time to reach the turnpike gate before the sun 

went down. 

She gently tapped upon the bar, afraid to pass it 

by, 
Awaiting patiently without for someone to reply. 

And when she saw the gateman come with kind 

inquiring mien. 
She asked, " Pray, will you tell me, sir, am I at 

Aberdeen ? ' ' 



Thoughts in Verse. 59 

"That's where you are, my bonny lass," he 

answered with a grin; 
'Then will you tell me, sir," she cried, ** if Peggy 

is within ? " 



HE KISSED MY HAND. 

WITH outstretched hand I said good-bye 
And hid with smiles the heart-felt sigh 
Of love's command. 
I heard not how he bade adieu, 
I only felt, I only knew 
He kissed my hand. 

Though many years have flown since then 
And we may never meet again 

Upon this land. 
No time nor sorrow can destroy 
The brightness of that moment's joy — 

He kissed my hand. 



6o Thoughts in Verse. 



FALLEN LEAVES. 



SPECTRES of a throng 
Ever banished 
With the years; 
Echoes of a song 
That has vanished 
With the tears. 

Dreams in dreary haze 
Dimly sifted 

Through the light; 
Shadows of the days 
That have drifted 
Into night. 

Thoughts from childhood's page 
Softly prating 
To and fro; 
Fantasies of age 
Mutely waiting 
For the snow. 



Thoughts in Verse. 6^1 



AFFINITY. 

I MET her on the crowded street; 
A smile, a bow, 
As passing people ever greet, 
And yet, somehow 
Her look, her glance, her smiling face, 
Sweet loveliness and gentle grace 
Are with me now. 

As did a flitting sunbeam light 

The darkened way; 
Though but a moment in its flight, 

Its soul doth stay 
Embodied in some heart-born flower, 
That gathered to its pregnant bower 

The quick' ning ray. 



EGO. 

Whate'er may be each life's divergent course, 
All human acts, however small or great, 

Have in the love of self a common source 
And prove the unity of love and hate. 



62 Thoughts in Verse. 



THE LIGHT DEPARTED. 

THE world's merry laugh and the sunbeams clear 
That ripple the infinite sea, 
Are the echo sad and the shadows drear 
Of a day that has gone from me; 
For then we were four upon life's bright shore — 
To-night, we are only three. 

Fond memories come and the visions go 
Like the dreams of an unhappy sleep, 

The nebulous forms drifting to and fro 
On the rocks where the wild billows leap, 

The phantoms unreal that flittingly steal 
Through the gloom of the limitless deep. 

The chilling winds moan 'mid the breakers' roar 
And now through the shadows I see 

A life that goes out from the lives on shore 
And I hear a voice calling to me, 

As slowly the light fades into the night 
Far out on the infinite sea. 

And never again will the light return — 
The light of a life that has flown, — 



Thoughts in Verse, 63 

Though spirits may call and the heart may yearn 

For the soul that has drifted alone 
To infinite rest on the silent breast 

Of the dark and the hidden unknown. 

While the lips may smile and the cheeks may glow- 
As if from sad memory free, 

The joys of the days of the long ago 
Will never come back to me; 

For then we were four upon life's bright shore — 
To-night, we are only three. 



RESERVATION. 

The deepest grief is that which doth conceal 
With smiling heart the spirit's lifeless gloom. 

Where silently the hidden tears congeal 

To form at last their sorrow's welcome tomb. 



64 Thoughts in Verse. 



DISILLUSION. 

IS AW beside a meadow stream 
A flower, which in fancy's dream 
I oft had sought. 
The beauties of the blossomed field 
Or e'en the garden's rarest yield 
To it were nought. 

With ecstasy my heart was thrilled, 
For in this flower was fulfilled 

A life's desire; 
Within its bosom there lay furled 
A joy, which nought else in the world 

Could e'er inspire. 

With trembling hand 1 gently sought 
To pluck this rare, incarnate thought 

Of heaven born; 
Yet ere I could the treasure clasp, 
I felt within my loving grasp 

A stinging thorn. 

Poor mortal and illuded mind, 
That had sweet happiness divined 



Thoughts in Verse. 65 

With eager greed, 
Awoke as from a mortal strife 
To find the flower of my hfe 

A common weed. 

Strange, dual force, that can destroy 
For all eternity the joy 

So lately giv'n; 
That doth create but to dispel — 
That casts the throbbing soul to hell 

In sight of heav'n. 



HER NAME. 

HER name, you say, is not so sweet 
As Isabel or Marguerite, 
Annette or Geraldine ? 
Ah well, and need I then reply. 
That through the heart, and not the eye. 
True loveliness is seen ? 

For you may have your Isabel 
And all the pretty names that dwell 

Within your fancy's frame, 
But they with all their loveliness 
Have not the power to express 

The charm of her dear name. 



66 Thoughts in Verse. 



CHANSONNETTE. 



I SAW two silv'ry clouds, love, 
Come sailing one by one. 
As spirits soft that moved aloft 
On t'ward the setting sun. 
Methought in fancy's dream, love, 

That they were you and I 
Thus gliding on to love-land 
Beyond the blushing sky. 

Then floating side by side, love, 

And ling' ring on the way 
To greet the star that from afar 

Stole forth to seal the day, 
Still closer e'er they drew, love. 

Until the day was done. 
When fading into love-land 

The two were only one. 



Thoughts in Verse, 67 



THE EVENING STAR. 

IT shines amid the Hght subdued 
Upon the tranquil soHtude, 
Where, restful and alone, 
Enshrouded in a stillness deep, 
He sleeps the everlasting sleep 
Within the great unknown. 

It shines amid the light subdued 
Upon the living multitude, 

Where I remain alone — 
Alone amid the worldly strife. 
Enchained within the tomb of life. 

With mem'ries overgrown. 

Oh, that the time may not be far, 
When with the faded ev'ning star. 

Whose mellow light hath flown. 
Another soul may take its flight 
Unto the silent, boundless night, 

To be no more alone. 



68 Thoughts in I'erse. 



FIVE APPLE SEEDS. 



JUST five apple seeds! yes, five little seeds 
I To unfold to me fortune's decree: 
*^ Ah, how hard is my fate! oh, how bitter the 

thought, 
'Mid the joys I have sought and the hopes I have 



wrought, 



That my love should prove false unto thee! 

For it's one that I love and it's two that I love 
And it's three that Pm loving, I say, 

And it's four that I love with the love of my 
heart; 

But a love that must part; yea, alas, it must part. 
For with five I will cast thee away. 

just five apple seeds! yes. five little seeds 

To unfold to me fortune's decree; 
But how blind is my heart and how foolish am I 
To thus drearily sigh when I clearly espy 

That my fate has been trifling with me — 

For it's one that I love and it's two that I love 
And it's three that Pm loving, I say, 



Thoughts 171 Verse. 69 

And it's four that I love with the love of my heart, 
With a love ne'er to part! yes, a love ne'er to part, 
For with five I will love thee for aye! 



MY BOUTONNIERE. 

MY boLitonniere of pansies fair 
Bespeaks to me a lang^uage rare. 
For other minds may not perceive 
Nor other hearts discover 
The thoughts and songs that interweave 
The fancies of an ardent lover. 

While it may well to others tell 
The secret of some garden dell. 

To me it whisp'ring breathes of one — 

Her loveliness expressing, — 
The thought of whom is as the sun 
The blossoms of the heart caressing. 



Thoughts in Verse. 



DOLLY BELLE. 



DOWN the lane beside the meadow where the 
honej-suckle grows 
With the daisies and the clover and the lovely 
briar-rose, 
While the \-iolets are sleeping 'neath the shadow of 

the ddl, 
Lived a little, blue-eyed maiden, known to me as 
DoUv Belle. 



Oit I met her lighdy tripping, tripping e'er in meny- 

chase, 
While the sunbeams through her tresses kissed her 

rosy, dimpled face, 
And the posies of the meadow where her flitting 

footsteps fell 
Nodded nods of nodding welcome to their lo\Tng 

Dolly Belle. 

And she took me to her garden, to her garden down 

the lane. 
Where the cheer}- little songsters, in a chirruping 

refrain. 



* Thoughts in Verse. 71 

And the flowers, by their blushes, loving secrets 

tried to tell 
To their charming, dainty mistress, lovely, little 

Dolly Belle. 

There she sang to them in carols, caroling so sweet 

and clear. 
That the gentle breath of heaven hushed its'melody 

to hear. 
Life was all a mellow summer, all the world a quiet 

dell 
To this merry, fairy maiden, joyful, blithesome 

Dolly Belle. 

"Come," I said, "and let us wander, wander far 

and far away. 
Where the roses never wither and the robins always 

stay "— 
For I loved this little maiden more than any words 

can tell, — 
But the jealous soul of nature claimed my darling 

Dolly Belle. 

Oft I ramble o'er the meadow as the daylight fades 

away. 
As the sunbeams faindy tremble on the edge of 

parting day. 
And I wander by the garden where the birds and 

flowers dwell 
Ever longing, ever waiting, for their angel Dolly Belle. 



72 Thoughts in Verse. 



THE PLAINT OF WOMAN'S LOVE. 

WONDROUS love, that stirs the woman's 
breast 
With gentle kiss borne down from heav'n! 
O tyranny of man, that hath suppressed 
Expression of her love God-giv'n! 

She dare not manifest by uttered word 
The passions that her soul enthrill; 

The music of her love is all unheard. 
Earth's rarest melodies are still; 

While he, upon an impulse, may proclaim 

His simulated love, that glows 
With vacillating and impassioned flame 

In sordid aphroditic throes. 

O vaunting man, who hath by cruelty 

Made cruel even love so fair. 
That it doth blight the life it came to free — 

A curse upon its own sweet prayer. 



016 117 619 9 ^ 






